Archive of ‘Mario Dedivanovic’ category

By now, you’ve probably heard all of the Kimye wedding details. Kim Kardashian wore a Givenchy Haute Couture lace gown (she slipped into a bodycon Balmain dress post-ceremony) and Kanye West was outfitted in a custom Givenchy tuxedo. Not to be outdone, little North wore a dress also designed by Givenchy’s creative director, Riccardo Tisci. The couple exchanged Lorraine Schwartz wedding bands, were serenaded by John Legend, and are currently honeymooning in Ireland.

I know you must get a lot of questions about how to make a big nose appear smaller using makeup. I am aware of highlighting the nose and shading the sides darker if you have a wide nose. But my nose isn’t wide – it’s just slightly bulbous and by shading and highlighting the bridge of the nose it only makes the end of my nose appear bigger.

I was wondering if you could help me by giving me a few pointers on how or where would be best to shade the end of the nose.

I have dark lashes, but they are barely visible. My lashes are sparse and short, so I’m in the market for a mascara that will maximize my eyes. Can you recommend some of your favorite mascaras to lengthen and volumize my fringe so that they look like false lashes? That’s the look that I want, but I don’t know if it’s even possible. Also, I’ve heard of those products that claim to grow your lashes, but do any actually work? Thanks for your help, Mario. You’re the best!

Earlier this month, I was lucky enough to attend Mario Dedivanovic’s first NYC makeup workshop.

Mario is one of the most sought-after makeup artists in the world and is the wizard behind Kim Kardashian’s flawless face. His celebrity clientele also includes Natasha Bedingfield, Eliza Dushku, Michelle Williams, Amanda Bynes, Gina Gershon and many others.

Over the course of the five hour seminar, Mario worked his makeup magic, demonstrating how to create a red carpet look – with singer/actress Adrienne Bailon acting as his model. Mario also answered the attendees burning beauty questions, like he does here in his Makeup Mondays with Mario column, and shared his expert techniques. And being the sweetheart that he is, he posed for photos with all of the workshop participants.

That’s me in the back, furiously taking notes.

Strike a pose….there’s nothing to it…VOGUE!

For those of you who didn’t attend, you really missed out. Luckily, I took nine pages of copious notes and here are some gems:

* “Making a client feel comfortable is as important than the quality of the work,” Mario said. “If a client doesn’t feel comfortable, they won’t book you again.”

* Kim Kardashian’s makeup can take up to 2 hours, whereas her sister Kourtney likes her makeup to be done in 20 minutes or less.

* Mario’s favorite highlighter is one that he custom blended himself. “EYE M GLAM is a sheer highlighting powder that will give you the most gorgeous, golden glow. Using GIELLA mineral pigments, I custom blended EYE M GLAM while sitting on the floor in my apartment one evening, determined to come up with the best highlighter.” Use it under the brows, on cheekbones, down the bridge of the nose and anywhere else you want to define bone structure. Soon, Giella will be releasing Lip Glam – a peachy golden gloss that Mario mixed to be like EYE M GLAM for lips.

* When applying powder cosmetics with brushes, don’t pull and drag – it will just smear and ruin your base. Instead, press the bristles into the skin. And don’t load up the brush with product. Less is always best because you can add more, if necessary. If you accidentally apply too much, you may have to wipe it off and start over again.

* For false fringe, Mario and Adrienne both love Ardell’s #116 lashes. Mario told the workshop attendees that the trick to full and lush-looking false lashes is to layer them. On Adrienne, Mario applied a full strip of the #116 lashes; once dry, he layered a half strip of the #116 on the outer corner of each eye. Once the second layer is dry, draw a line of eyeliner at the base of the lashes – to mask the line. Then curl lashes and apply a coat of mascara to “marry” your real lashes with the false ones and make them appear more natural.

* When applying concealer under the eyes, Mario takes it to a whole nuther level. Using a brush, he applies a cream concealer (that is 2 shades lighter than your skin tone) under each eye – in the shape of an inverted triangle. The bottom tip of the triangle should be mid-cheek, at the level of your nostril. Then layer a liquid concealer on top of the cream concealer (Mario likes Make Up For Ever Lift Concelaer). Then blend…blend…blend, girl – using the ultimate beauty tool, the beautyblender sponge.

* When you’re finished your makeup, apply MAC Fix+ to set everything. Mario said, “The silicone in it makes all of the makeup look more natural.”

In addition to attending the workshop and learning from the master, I was also a sponsor of the event. I raffled off a basket of Spoiled Pretty faves (you know I love me a giveaway), which included:

* CoSTUME NATIONAL SCENT: SCENT was created to highlight the intoxicating floral of hibiscus. Somewhat light and fresh at first, SCENT gradually makes its way to a rich, golden elixir. Perfect for the well-bred bad boy (or girl)!* ghd Scarlet Collection Limited Edition: Inspired by the bold reds hues and ‘Art Deco’ influence seen on the catwalks of designers such as Gucci, Rodarte and Marc Jacobs, ghd introduces Scarlet Collection Limited Edition. For the first time ever, hot red styling plates adorn the best selling ghd Gold Series Professional Styler, whose signature rounded barrel allows you to easily create curls, waves, flicks or straight looks. Packaged in a luxe, red satin roll mat that doubles as a chic clutch, this limited edition collection is the perfect accessory to keep you and your hair looking stylish.* TEMPTU Limited Edition Everyday Luxury Set: TEMPTU, the worldwide leader in high-definition airbrush makeup, is offering the gift of flawless, A-List skin with the Limited Edition Everyday Luxury Set. This luxurious gift set makes airbrushing at home simple with TEMPTU’s revolutionary technology including the TEMPTU AIRbrush Makeup System, a gift certificate to receive a free custom match AIRpod Foundation as well as a chic limited edition silver Jet Set Case to stylishly store your collection.* TEMPTU BASE Smooth & Matte Primer: This portable powerhouse creates a poreless finish, diffuses skin’s flaws, and fights shine all day and night! Now you can minimize the look of pores and fine lines and achieve a soft-matte, airbrushed complexion without the heavy, greasy feel traditionally associated with face primers.* LaLicious Sugar Reef Collection: LaLicious introduces their newest scent, Sugar Reef. Infused with notes of casaba melon, white tea and ginger, Sugar Reef encapsulates the clean and fresh aroma of an ocean breeze. This luxurious scrub and body oil are formulated to moisturize and smooth your skin to perfection. Lalicious products are all natural and free of parabens, preservatives and sulfate detergents.* Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color Bundles: Your eye color – intensified! Expert makeup artists have done the thinking for you – picking the right vibrant, long-lasting mineral eye shades to make your eye color pop. Available in Beautiful Brown, Brilliant Blue, Gorgeous Green and Hypnotic Hazel.* Mary Kay TimeWise Miracle Set: Provides incredible age-fighting results to help you maintain younger-looking skin. The set offers 11 age-defying benefits in one skin care regimen: cleanse, exfoliate, freshen, energize, hydrate, smooth, firm, soften, protect, rebuild and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. And it even works with sensitive skin.* Mary Kay TimeWise Night Restore & Recover Complex: Awaken the age-fighting potential of your skin at night and get the most out of your beauty sleep. This advanced age fighter works with your skin’s natural cycle to recover from the day’s damage. So you can wake up to younger-looking skin.* Mary Kay NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss: Kiss your lips with instant moisture, feel-good benefits and serious shine. This gloss is available in 14 gorgeous colors you can’t live without. You’ll love the superlight, long-lasting, creamy formula and the good-for-your-lips ingredients, like antioxidants and botanical extracts, that leave lips smoothed, protected and conditioned.

Mario picks Anjanet as the winner of the beauty basket raffle!

Many thanks to the aforementioned brands for generously donating products for the giveaway.

Anjanet, the lucky winner, definitely got a workout toting her beauty booty back to the Bronx.

Mario’s workshop was an amazing event and I’m so glad I made the trip to NYC (some people even traveled from other countries to see Mario in person – he’s THAT good). The workshop has received rave reviews. I even taped a few…

You are a huge inspiration to me you truly inspire me to try new and different unique things as a make up artist. There is just one thing I find tricky to achieve when I do make up. What’s a easy way for a really defined eye crease? I find it very challenging to create this look and I always end up with two different shapes on each eye! What’s the trick?

I have really dry skin so I am not really a fan of matte foundations. I always use foundations that give me a radiant, dewy glow – however every time I set my foundation with my compact powder, I lose my glow and my skin gets matte and dull. It looks dry all over again which makes me not want to set my foundation. Is there a way I can set everything without losing the glow?

Time and time again, I’ve heard the rule that you should never do a bold eye and a bold lip at the same time. But I’ve seen it done in magazines and the red carpet and it looks stunning. Can you recommend some tips for achieving this look in real life?

Thanks!Tara

Tara,

The trick to achieving the look of a bold eye andbold lip in real life is to do it at the right time and for the right occasion. If not, you just won’t feel confident or comfortable.

To start experimenting with the bold look, use sheer formulas and textures. Instead of black smokey eyes and a matte opaque red lip, pair a sheer red lip color with a strong smokey eye using shimmery bronze shadow. Keep your skin natural and glowing, but make your lashes long and dramatic.

I guarantee you that in no time you will be inspiring other girls to be bold and beautiful, just like you ;-).

Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!xo,

Mario

Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario’s expert advice!

I have been struggling to find a powder to set my concealer without it caking or eventually creasing. I don’t know if I’m applying the powder wrong. I use a sponge and swipe my compact, then press it under my eyes. What powders – both high end and drugstore – would you recommend to set concealer? And with what makeup tool should I apply it with (i.e. sponge, powder puff, makeup brush)?

Thanks,

Alyssa

Hi Alyssa,

You should not be using a compact powder to set your under eye concealer. Pressed powders are too heavy to set that area with. What you want is a very fine loose translucent powder to set your makeup with. Dip a basic cosmetic sponge (I like the white wedges from the pharmacy) into your loose powder to pick up a generous amount of the powder and pat/press over the concealer under the eyes. Follow with a clean brush to sweep away the access powder from that area.

Be sure to get a powder that is colorless or a couple of shades lighter then your skin tone so that you don’t get that “muddy” look which happens when foundation is set by powder that is too dark. Any brand of loose powder will work – it’s just a preference. I suggest you go out and try a few to see what feels best on your skin. Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!

xo,

Mario

Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario’s expert advice!

If you’re reading this question and about to answer it – thank you, thank you, thank you! My problem is that I have HUGE pores. My pores are a big issue for me and I hate the way they make my skin look. Are there any skincare products or makeup that you can recommend that will shrink and/or conceal them? Thanks so much for your expert advice. I’m your biggest fan!

Love,Holly

Hi Holly,

I’ve got three words for you – “Pores No More.” Famed dermatologist Dr. Brandt created Pores No More products to help visibly reduce the size and appearance of large pores.

You can follow with your normal makeup routine or even try a product like Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base by L’Oreal. Just apply with your finger to the T-zone and any areas with large pores. It will smooth out the skin’s texture and fill in fine lines and pores for a more flawless makeup application.

Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!

xo,

Mario

Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario’s expert advice!